Inside President Obama’s Final White House Thanksgiving

— -- President Obama is celebrating his final Thanksgiving at the White House with family today, and he reflected on his past eight years at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“When I look back over the years, what strikes me most about my girls is that, despite the challenges that have come their way, they have remained extraordinarily kind,” Obama said. “They treat people with the respect and understanding that all of us deserve -- no matter who we are, where we come from, who we love, or what we believe. It's that bedrock belief in decency that can only come from an inherent optimism about the road ahead.”

The president also posted a Thanksgiving message on Facebook, writing that while the White House has “served as the backdrop to the tough decisions and trying times that often characterize the Presidency,” it’s also been home, “where Michelle and I have watched our daughters grow into the funny, smart, humble, and extraordinary young women they are today.”

Earlier today, the president called Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard service members who are deployed overseas. A White House official says the president “thanked them for their service, and he wished them and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.”

The first family’s dinner menu includes a mix of traditional and non-traditional dishes. The complete menu is below.

Hors d'oeuvres:
Mini BLTs
Chicken satay with peanut chili dip
Mini crab cakes
Pizza bites
Fresh veggies and hummus
Pigs in the blanket

Dinner Buffet:
Thyme roasted turkey (carving station)
Garlic jus and cranberry-orange relish
Honey-baked ham
Apricot-mustard glaze
Prime rib and creamed horseradish
Shallot marmalade
Fried chicken wings

Sides:
Cornbread stuffing with chorizo and roasted peppers
Oyster stuffing
Braised winter greens (collards, kale, and turnip greens)
Macaroni and cheese
Sweet potato gratin
Yukon gold mashed potatoes
Green bean casserole
Fresh greens and kale Caesar salad
Dinner rolls

Dessert:
Banana cream pie
Coconut cream pie
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
Pecan pie
Cherry pie